March 7, 2010
Emergence
Upward.
Photo: courtesy of Charles, who emailed this lovely vision from our driveway on the island as I gazed at yellow snow, rather than yellow flowers, in NYC. Much as I love my home town, I think I prefer the color on the flowers. I have no idea what those purple-blue blooms are, but they’re fabulous.
I post this from a most civilized space (Vino Volo) in a most civilized airport (SeaTac) as I wait for the van to take me to Boeing Field, where I’ll hop on a flying Volkswagen that will plop me down in a less civilized, if yet more beautiful, part of the western U.S. a hundred miles north of here. And apart from a brief trip in mid March to go to the rehearsal and performance of Vista in Seattle by my talented friend, violinist Karen Bentley, for the first time in the better part of a year, my calendar is clear of travel for a few weeks, unless some utterly compelling opportunity is suddenly dropped on my doorstep that would cause me to leave it. So this normally peripatetic (rhymes with pathetic) composer gets to stay home and actually compose without interruption for a while. Hooray! Because there are a lot of notes waiting to escape.
Ann Dockendorf said,
March 8, 2010 @ 11:22 am
Alex, we have Camas Lilies here, a slightly lighter hue, about the same size and formation. Perhaps they are kin. Our plum trees are blossoming, too. ~ well-trimmed by alpacas up to the 5-ft level. Enjoy the spring!
Glenn Buttkus said,
March 9, 2010 @ 6:33 am
False spring was heavy upon us down in America; everything blossoming. But this morning it is 26 degrees in Sumner, and the frost lies heavier on the trees and plants, spanking them for worshiping the false god of sun, and believing the warmth to be permanent. There are some who might feel that you brought the arctic blasts back with you from the Big Island, cuz now they, in NYC are having
milder weather. Everywhere there are angels laughing and flowers wilting, but the highlight for the region is the return of the island composer, Ms. Shapiro. For goodness sakes, let those notes be born, let them join the vibrations already
extant around your home. I really enjoyed the Price Trio playing your Adagio: Trio for Clarinet, Violin, and Piano @ 2:17. Several times the harmony of the clarinet and violin was perfect, making it hard to pick out the voice of either. Welcome, welcome, and may these weeks at home with Charles and the cats be loving and fruitful.
Lane Savant said,
March 9, 2010 @ 3:58 pm
We’ve bought the train tickets only to find I’ll be out of town on the 19th when Karen Bentley Pollick will be playing your music. If you are going to be there in person, please don’t tell me.
Missing both you and the Bach cello suite marathon would send me right back to therapy
Alex Shapiro said,
March 9, 2010 @ 7:04 pm
Now that’s the kind of utter devotion from a fellow composer I like to see! Driving someone straight to therapy was what I often thought the effect of hearing my music had on people. Now I’m pleased to see that it’s the thought of not hearing it. For at least one person… 🙂
I will indeed be there, so if anyone reading this wants an unused train ticket, contact Mssr. Savant.
Lane Savant said,
March 9, 2010 @ 10:04 pm
Ya spend weeks with nuthin’ ta do but soon’z ya plan one thing every thing else happens all at once. Sic Semper Gloria Mundi and her sister Sharon.